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Best lens combination for travel?


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From that set up:

1 lens only - 35

2 lenses - 24 + 50

 

Now I can't decide from these (my favourite three). For a one lens set up I'd be torn between any of them but the 24 or 50 would most likely be my first choice, with the pair together as second and the 35mm added in if I took all three. Problem is that I find myself selecting subject matter for the lens I'm carrying/using so although choices are good, so I feel is the discipline of reducing the lenses carried. Choices, choices, choices..... I'm coming to the conclusion that a minimalist kit means greater emphasis and concentration of the subject matter. So in some ways it doesn't matter which you carry as long as you are happy using the lenses that you do carry. Strangely, if I carry a FF Canon and one lens its almost invariable the 24mm which would equate to the 18 on the M8.

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There's no best, only what you as an individual prefer. For example Chris above says a 35mm for a one lens combo, I'd say a 28mm. How does that help you?

 

For two lenses I'd choose either 24/35 or 28/50 depending on how I'm feeling - or maybe a 28/75 even. There's no right answer, and there's no wrong answer, only personal preferences.

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18 super elmar

24 elmar

35 summicron asph

50 summilux pre-asph

Of these 4 I would say the 35 Summicron ASPH offers the best 1-lens compromise between size, speed and angle. For a 2-lens kit I suppose it becomes 24 and 50 for the additional range and because you can't really leave a Summilux at home ;)

Above that, take everything.

 

(In other words, what Brian and Chris said)

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I am just moving around in morocco, for me a proven combination is:

15 Heliar (-> 21)

21 Biogon (->28)

35 Biogon C (-> 50)

75 Summarit (-> 100)

 

I I go out at night, there is only a 35 1.2 Nokton - nothing more.

 

If I would not have a home base, I wuld travel only with :

21 Biogon

35 Biogon C

75 Summarit

 

Have a nice trip!

 

JPH

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It's a matter of preference. I would hope you'd be familiar enough with your gear to know what suits you.

 

My travel kit is a 24/1.4 and 50/1.4 on two M8s and a 21/2.8 and 75/2 as backup or for special circumstances. The latter two lenses usually stay in my room.

 

If I were taking only one lens, it would have to be the 28/2, but since you don't have one I guess I'd go with the 35. But, taking into account what I said about personal preference, it's hard to beat the 24/50 combo on the M8.

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I agree it depends on your anticipated subject matters.

 

I recently came back from a month long trip to China and Hong Kong. I took the following lenses with the M8:

15 CV

28 Cron

50 Lux

135 Tele-Elmar

 

All four lenses, plus extra batteries, SD cards, rocket blower, spirit level, lens paper and cleaning cloth, and a short shutter release cable fit into a small video camera bag measuring 9x6". I made a couple of partitions and everything is in its own place until their showtime.

 

I used this set-up to shoot from landscape to cityscape, street scenes to people, architecture, museums as well as stage performances. Most used was the 28 Cron and 15 CV, the 50 Lux was invaluable inside museums, and the 135 Tele-Elmar was handy during stage shows as well as getting architectural details from a distance. You may swap it for a 75 or 90 if you don't usually use 135.

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This combo is insanely small. All 39mm filters - covers "21" to "120" on an M8:

 

15 c/v

28 Elmarit-M ASPH

90 Tele-Elmarit-M

 

For a small bump up in weight you can sub a 28 'cron for the f/2 aperture.

 

Last trip I took (Cabo, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta) I took that plus a 21 and 50 - and used the 21 and 50 very little. But there were a couple of times I wished for a 135. Phil's combo would have worked well for me also.

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I use:

 

15/4.5 heliar

35/2 cron ASPH

75/2.5 heliar

135/4 TE

 

For street I just take the 15 and the 35.

The 135 is a recent acquisition that has so far been used for compressed landscapes, picking out architectural details, and sports photog. Also good for close-ups. It's a nice lens but much heavier than any of the others so need far justification to get in the bag.

The 75 gets used almost exclusively for portraits. In many respects I think I would rather carry the 135 than the 75 because the extra reach over the 35 makes a much greater difference to which subjects can be taken or how they appear.

 

So there we are - my two lens kit would be 15 and 35. Three lens kit would be 15, 35 and 135. Based on my thinking, you should take your widest lens, your best quality normal lens, and your longest lens.

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I will be leaving for two week trip this week and am thinking to take

15 Heliar

21 Elmarit

28 Elmarit

35 Summilux

50 Summilux or 75 Summicron

 

But I will not carry them all in my bag and probably take two or three depending on where I go on that day.

 

For museum type place, I would take 15/21/35.

For outdoor type place such as parks, I would take 21/35/75.

When I am just wondering around the city, then I would take 28 alone...

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While I agree that there is no BEST, I offer my own preference. It is compact and does the job. 15mm Voigtlander (new rangefinder coupled version), 28mm F2, 90mmF2.8. Several cards, and an extra battery and charger, and rarely a flash. DR

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I have committed to the 28mm Cron + 60mm Hexanon for this summer.

The cron is versatile and the Hexanon a very fast tele and portrait lens as it corresponds roughly to a 80mm F1.2 lens.

But were I to do a travel with lots of landscapes, I might go for the 24 Elmarit, simply the best Leica lens I have tried.

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